The Quarter Pole; What's the problem?

[Bellhorn04]

The Red Sox biggest problem is becoming more and more obvious: it's the offence, plain and simple.

 

At 3.91 runs scored per game, the 2014 Red Sox are on pace to being the second lowest-scoring Red Sox team since 1968, the Year of the Pitcher. The only other team that was worse was the 1992 team.

 

Since May 15, the Red Sox have had 3 separate 3-game stretches where they've scored 5 runs total, or less.

[Palodios]

There are options, but they probably will take some time to develop. The team needs to gain a few games in the next month on the way to the trade deadline and keep it close. I doubt any other AL East team has the kind of pitching depth that the Red Sox do.

 

Napoli is finally back, Victorino is coming back this week. Ben should be able to find an overpaid all-bat, no glove type outfielder at the deadline for no significant prospects. With Bradley and Vic they can probably hide someone in left. There is also the chance we see Mookie or WMB.

[Spudboy]

And who could this outfield bat be?

 

The pickin's are slim it seems.

[mvp 78]

Pump the breaks on Mookie. I love him, but he's not MLB ready at the moment.

[Palodios]

And who could this outfield bat be?

 

The pickin's are slim it seems.

 

Josh Willingham is my favorite pick. Last year of his contract, $7 million due in 2014. Career .833 OPS career, generally a 20-30 HR guy. Playing on a last place team that has been in last place for years. He's a hack defensively, but in LF at Fenway with an otherwise excellent OF, he'll be fine. With the Twins continuing to be desperate for pitching, I bet you could get him for Felix Doubront.

 

I have a few other ideas. Michael Cuddyer is owed 8 figures on the last year of a contract for a bad team. If he can recover from the injury before the deadline and show he is healthy, he would fit.

 

Matt Holliday is owed a lot of money, and could be available if the Cardinals fall a bit in the standings. The World Series loss hurts the trade a bit, but Card fans won't have to see his bat against them.

 

Denorfia is a bit better defensively and worse offensively, but he is a good player on a bad team.

 

Seth Smith would be a great platoon option for Gomes.

 

The Rangers have good expensive outfielders and are in the middle of a record-breakingly unlucky season.

[Palodios]

Pump the breaks on Mookie. I love him, but he's not MLB ready at the moment.

 

Was this referring to me? I started that post by saying that the options will take time to develop.

[Spudboy]

How about Alex Rios?

 

The Rangers appear to be going nowhere either. He is 33 but he is hitting very well. He has speed.

 

His power numbers are down but he is still productive and has an expiring contract with a club option for 2015.

 

$13. Mil/year for a very solid RHH outfield bat would seem like a good move to me.

[Palodios]

How about Alex Rios?

 

The Rangers appear to be going nowhere either. He is 33 but he is hitting very well. He has speed.

 

I'd definitely be in favor of picking him up. When I referenced the Rangers, I was referring to both him and Choo -- although Choo might be more of a longshot.

[Spudboy]

I just remember Rios being a Sox killer from years ago. I see that he remains pretty productive. I think that he would be an excellent fit now but suspect the Sox won't be making any significant acquisitions around the deadline.

[seabeachfred]

Just as it isn't Matt Kemp of the Dodgers. The guy is whiner and complainer, is a shell of his former self and has been bitching and complaining whenever he is not in the lineup. Besides, he is a loafer and that is how he tore his ankle last season. Rios or Willingham would be better for us.

[Thunder]

Hey Fred, where's that GT for tonight? Jonny needs some good mojo

[seabeachfred]

Hey Fred, where's that GT for tonight? Jonny needs some good mojo

 

Thunder, I volunteered my services last night and personally think it should be shared by all of our friends here. Hey, here's a thought. Why don't you give it a try?

[Spudboy]

But Fred it's your responsibility to keep your mojo going.

 

That's the way it works here.

[Thunder]

Thunder, I volunteered my services last night and personally think it should be shared by all of our friends here. Hey, here's a thought. Why don't you give it a try?

 

I can't. I'm on game 71 of a 162 game suspension.

[sk7326]

Here is what needs to be done:

 

1. Cut Ross and bring up Vasquez (There is no down side to this)

2. Send down Nava and let him play his way into oblivion in the minors. His pumpkin is not going to turn back into a chariot.

3. Send down Bradley and hope that he can learn to hit.

4. Get Victorino back and stick him in CF (and put him in bubble wrap when he is not playing).

5. Give Holt the full time LF job.

6. Gomes and Sizemore platoon in RF

7. If Buch can make it back to the starting rotation, dump Peavy who more useless than 2013 Dempster.

8. Rotation should be Lester, Lackey, Workman, Buch and Rubby.

9. Doubs becomes the long man if he makes it back

10. Crapuano gets a one way bus ticket

 

1. You are choosing the wrong catcher

2. Nava belongs in the outfield mix as long as we have platooners out there. On base skills

3. Better off in the bigs - he has been productive in the minors generally, what he needs to learn, he has to learn with big league ABs.

4. RF is still better value here.

5. Maybe - have a contingency if/when he turns into a pumpkin

6. A bit expired by now

7. Rotation issues have a way of working themselves out. If Peavy is the worst of them, this rotation is doing well.

8. At least today - let's just be happy we have 7 reasonable starters - most teams don't have 4

9. I'd concur, although non-strike throwing relievers make a tear roll down my eye

10. Who cares really.

[sk7326]

The Red Sox biggest problem is becoming more and more obvious: it's the offence, plain and simple.

 

At 3.91 runs scored per game, the 2014 Red Sox are on pace to being the second lowest-scoring Red Sox team since 1968, the Year of the Pitcher. The only other team that was worse was the 1992 team.

 

Since May 15, the Red Sox have had 3 separate 3-game stretches where they've scored 5 runs total, or less.

 

What is amazing so far is that the Red Sox fundamentals have largely been good here approachwise. The OBP is not at all bad (.326, above league average, 6th in the AL). The BA has been low - but who cares there. The problem has been almost entirely a lack of extra base hits in general, and homeruns in particular. One can moan about Ellsbury's loss - but the net there is not what has caused the power outage. That has been a team wide scourge.

[seabeachfred]

What is amazing so far is that the Red Sox fundamentals have largely been good here approachwise. The OBP is not at all bad (.326, above league average, 6th in the AL). The BA has been low - but who cares there. The problem has been almost entirely a lack of extra base hits in general, and homeruns in particular. One can moan about Ellsbury's loss - but the net there is not what has caused the power outage. That has been a team wide scourge.

 

I think the enormous amount of runners left on base also tell us that we need more productive hits. That cannot be ignored.

[sk7326]

I think the enormous amount of runners left on base also tell us that we need more productive hits. That cannot be ignored.

 

It can to a certain degree. The Sox led the league in LOBs last year as well. Tigers were 2nd. You put a lot of guys on base, you're gonna leave a lot of guys on base. Now what is fascinating is how few of them they have cashed in - well below what you'd expect. They are the 3rd worst scoring team in the AL, well documented of course. But of the teams in the bottom, they are the only team who is generating baserunners at an above average rate! Now I am not going to say it is a lack of "clutch ability" - that is stupid, there are a lot of the same characters from a year ago. But this is a team direly in need of some 3-run homers ... and more than likely will probably start to get a few of them. 72 games is a lot to keep talking about things regressing - but the Red Sox will start scoring more runs (maybe not enough) just by having some better luck.